Oh man. What can I say about this week? It was incredibly stressful. It was very fast. It was slightly frustrating. But also entertaining.
I hit my year mark this week. Which blew my mind a little bit. It's kinda surreal. Sounds silly, but the weirdest part for me is that I can now tell you what I was doing exactly a year ago at this time. haha. Oh the benefits of planning. A year ago today is the first time I invited someone to baptism. Yeah, it was in a lesson in the TRC (read: fake lesson), but I could feel the Spirit so strongly.
I think that was the first time I understood my purpose clearly as a missionary. I love what it says in Preach My Gospel: “More happiness awaits than you have ever experienced as you labour among the Lord's children.”
And that is so true. I have been so incredibly happy this year. Yeah, I mean, I've also cried more than I have in my life and sometimes I've been so stressed I wanted to yank my hair out, but that's part of it. I have experienced so much true joy this past year. I have grown in so many ways. Each up and down has been so necessary.
I am so humbled by this opportunity. My only purpose have been to serve my Saviour. I love what someone said a few weeks ago in church: “I think the greatest title I could aspire to is being a Friend of Christ, and I struggle enough just being a servant.”
It's so true.
I feel so grateful for the time I've served, and for every day that I have left. It's going to be good.
So this week: Goal: Aspire higher. Serve more fully.
Sorry this is short! Know it's full of love though!
Have a good week!
xxx
Sister Miller
Monday, February 17, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Tudo vem?
As a missionary, you learn so many skills you never would have guessed.
Some things I have practiced that I didn't expect to: Ironing other people's laundry. Balancing on chairs doing service. Translating 'medical speak' for my companions. Holding a squat for an entire dinner appointment because I didn't think the chair was safe. Swallowing burningly spicy food. Holding in fits of laughter. Holding my tongue (okay, I guess I knew that one would happen). Secretarial skills. Changing a tire (in the pitch black, pouring rain next to a large motorway. In a skirt. Without a jack.). Putting out a fire.
If you actually read that, you may have noticed I lit myself on fire this week. It was actually pretty funny. I'll reenact the story for you someday.
(Some people may have the goal to “light their area on fire”. I believe in cutting to the chase and just putting myself ablaze. It saves oh so much time.)
(Btw, I wasn't hurt. I couldn't salvage my shirt, but I was totally fine. Not even a mark.)
And as long as I'm sharing funny things from the week.... Sister Dorado was on the phone, getting an appointment approved with the insurance people. They were trying to find her on the system and so they asked for our mission president's name.
She said: President Monson.
Hahaha. Close, Sister. Close.
But on to The Work.
First off, have I ever mentioned how incredible my ward is? Every week, we have Ward Coordination. But it's not your typical coordination. Some new missionaries walked by, and saw the meeting, and asked how Ward Council went. I love answering them and saying: Actually, that's not Ward Council. That's Coordination.
There's a representative from every auxiliary. They are there, completely invested and ready to take action. They are there to help us so fully and completely. Members and missionaries. Coming together. They take on so much, and are so good at carrying out the work for the Lord. Truly, miracles that happen in this area are fully the result of the members. They give us names and referrals so consistently, and they are really hastening the work in our ward. I just feel so privileged. Each week, I look around the room and see the miracle of the gospel. I love the blessing of being a doing, caring church.
So. If your ward doesn't have that, have a think about it. :) I loved what our Stake President said yesterday.... The Lord has commanded us to hasten the work. That means the pace we were working at before is not enough. We must do more. Each of us, every day, must do more to be more committed to the gospel.
Great, eh? I have come to learn to love being called to be better.
This week was so good. My favourite lesson I want to talk about is with a woman named Lynnette. She recently lost her father, and feels she has no purpose in life. This time, we taught Plan of Salvation.
In the leaflets, under little diagram of the Plan, it has the steps of the gospel. As we taught, I saw her focusing on that step.
And so we were talking about finding a joy and a purpose in our daily lives. She said: this is all good, but I wish that there was something I could do. Wouldn't God give me something to do?
Isn't that great? We can find so much joy when we take advantage of the gospel. Of course our Heavenly Father would give us things to do.
(Side tangent to go with that: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2649250157001 )
And so we talked about baptism. And she said something else that I just loved: More important than baptism is what I would do after it.
Of course! I love that. Making covenants is so crucial, but it's meaningless without keeping them. I love our Heavenly Father's Plan. It's desired and tailored so perfectly to each of us.
So she's praying about it and we'll see.
I love the gospel. It just makes so much sense. And I love sharing it. It is just so good.
With that said, have a good week. Do a little more this week.
That's my goal.
xxxx
Sister Miller
Pics:
Some things I have practiced that I didn't expect to: Ironing other people's laundry. Balancing on chairs doing service. Translating 'medical speak' for my companions. Holding a squat for an entire dinner appointment because I didn't think the chair was safe. Swallowing burningly spicy food. Holding in fits of laughter. Holding my tongue (okay, I guess I knew that one would happen). Secretarial skills. Changing a tire (in the pitch black, pouring rain next to a large motorway. In a skirt. Without a jack.). Putting out a fire.
If you actually read that, you may have noticed I lit myself on fire this week. It was actually pretty funny. I'll reenact the story for you someday.
(Some people may have the goal to “light their area on fire”. I believe in cutting to the chase and just putting myself ablaze. It saves oh so much time.)
(Btw, I wasn't hurt. I couldn't salvage my shirt, but I was totally fine. Not even a mark.)
And as long as I'm sharing funny things from the week.... Sister Dorado was on the phone, getting an appointment approved with the insurance people. They were trying to find her on the system and so they asked for our mission president's name.
She said: President Monson.
Hahaha. Close, Sister. Close.
But on to The Work.
First off, have I ever mentioned how incredible my ward is? Every week, we have Ward Coordination. But it's not your typical coordination. Some new missionaries walked by, and saw the meeting, and asked how Ward Council went. I love answering them and saying: Actually, that's not Ward Council. That's Coordination.
There's a representative from every auxiliary. They are there, completely invested and ready to take action. They are there to help us so fully and completely. Members and missionaries. Coming together. They take on so much, and are so good at carrying out the work for the Lord. Truly, miracles that happen in this area are fully the result of the members. They give us names and referrals so consistently, and they are really hastening the work in our ward. I just feel so privileged. Each week, I look around the room and see the miracle of the gospel. I love the blessing of being a doing, caring church.
So. If your ward doesn't have that, have a think about it. :) I loved what our Stake President said yesterday.... The Lord has commanded us to hasten the work. That means the pace we were working at before is not enough. We must do more. Each of us, every day, must do more to be more committed to the gospel.
Great, eh? I have come to learn to love being called to be better.
This week was so good. My favourite lesson I want to talk about is with a woman named Lynnette. She recently lost her father, and feels she has no purpose in life. This time, we taught Plan of Salvation.
In the leaflets, under little diagram of the Plan, it has the steps of the gospel. As we taught, I saw her focusing on that step.
And so we were talking about finding a joy and a purpose in our daily lives. She said: this is all good, but I wish that there was something I could do. Wouldn't God give me something to do?
Isn't that great? We can find so much joy when we take advantage of the gospel. Of course our Heavenly Father would give us things to do.
(Side tangent to go with that: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=2649250157001 )
And so we talked about baptism. And she said something else that I just loved: More important than baptism is what I would do after it.
Of course! I love that. Making covenants is so crucial, but it's meaningless without keeping them. I love our Heavenly Father's Plan. It's desired and tailored so perfectly to each of us.
So she's praying about it and we'll see.
I love the gospel. It just makes so much sense. And I love sharing it. It is just so good.
With that said, have a good week. Do a little more this week.
That's my goal.
xxxx
Sister Miller
Pics:
 |
| This is Sister Dorado and I. Figured I'd finally send a pic. The girl is Amirah, who is getting baptised next week. |
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Weather forecast for Wales: Pouring rain. Lightning. Rain. Hail. Rain. Rain. Rain. Five seconds of sun. Repeat.
Family!!
Have you heard about the storms here? We have been so blessed and protected. Just so you know.
I cannot even begin to count the number of miracles we have had this week. Each day has just been so full of blessings.
We met this man named Ian. He’s married to a lady who has been less-active for 30 years. He pretends to have all these crazy questions and objections but secretly I think he already believes that God is there. He just wants us to show him. After the first lesson, I had no interest in going back. He seemed angry and contenious and I just didn’t think it’s a good teaching envionment.
But my companion was so good. She saw his worth and potential and we went back. He felt the Spirit. After we talked about the Restoration, he came up with like twenty questions to “disprove” it. But he was deflecting. Yeah, buddy, that ain’t gonna work.
It was one of those lessons where I could just so fully feel the power and authority of the calling of a missionary. I just looked him straight in the eye and testified that I knew it was true. And I do. I couldn’t have more confidence in the Resoration had I been in the Sacred Grove or handled the plates for myself.
And I asked if he really wanted to know for himself that it was true too. He kinda didn’t know what to say to that. He literally just stammered. And suddenly I knew that he did want to know if it was true. He just couldn’t admit it. He’s had a hard life, and so has trouble accepting that God loves him. But Ian will come to know it’s true. I recieved that witness yesterday, and I look forward to watching his life transform.
He said: I hope you like throwing yourself up against a brick wall, because that’s what you are in for.
Well Ian, I don’t intend on hurling myself at anything. I plan on you taking down that brick wall all by yourself as you come to know the gospel is true. And I think he liked that.
And we started teaching like five other people. And they all just are so precious.
Remember me mentioning Marcia a few months ago? She’s from Portugal? We decided to go by, because Sister Dorado speaks “some” Portuguese as well as Spanish. (Yeah right. If you can have a full half hour conversation and lesson, you KNOW Portuguese.) Marcia said: I have been waiting for you! I hope you don’t mind that I kept reading your book?
Uh, well, I mean, if you had to keep reading it, I guess that’s okay.
The Spirit was just so strong. I sat there and could understand so little, but I could feel it.
As we left the lesson, Sister Dorado turned to me and said the scariest sentence ever: Sister Miller, we are going to start teaching you Portuguese so you can participate in the lesson.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I would run for the hills, but you have to stay within sight and sound of your companion. So reaction of choice? Fetal position. haha.
So we got permission from President to do language study and tonight we begin. It’s going to be an interesting experience, to be sure.
Basically, I know that the Lord is there and that He cares. He is so aware of us, and there are a thousand infinitely tender mercies everyday.
I love being a missionary. There is joy in every day. Yesterday I had like three ward members pull me aside and ask why I was glowing.
Duh.
I’m a missionary! What is there not to glow about???????????
I love you all.
xxxx
Sister Miller
Have you heard about the storms here? We have been so blessed and protected. Just so you know.
I cannot even begin to count the number of miracles we have had this week. Each day has just been so full of blessings.
We met this man named Ian. He’s married to a lady who has been less-active for 30 years. He pretends to have all these crazy questions and objections but secretly I think he already believes that God is there. He just wants us to show him. After the first lesson, I had no interest in going back. He seemed angry and contenious and I just didn’t think it’s a good teaching envionment.
But my companion was so good. She saw his worth and potential and we went back. He felt the Spirit. After we talked about the Restoration, he came up with like twenty questions to “disprove” it. But he was deflecting. Yeah, buddy, that ain’t gonna work.
It was one of those lessons where I could just so fully feel the power and authority of the calling of a missionary. I just looked him straight in the eye and testified that I knew it was true. And I do. I couldn’t have more confidence in the Resoration had I been in the Sacred Grove or handled the plates for myself.
And I asked if he really wanted to know for himself that it was true too. He kinda didn’t know what to say to that. He literally just stammered. And suddenly I knew that he did want to know if it was true. He just couldn’t admit it. He’s had a hard life, and so has trouble accepting that God loves him. But Ian will come to know it’s true. I recieved that witness yesterday, and I look forward to watching his life transform.
He said: I hope you like throwing yourself up against a brick wall, because that’s what you are in for.
Well Ian, I don’t intend on hurling myself at anything. I plan on you taking down that brick wall all by yourself as you come to know the gospel is true. And I think he liked that.
And we started teaching like five other people. And they all just are so precious.
Remember me mentioning Marcia a few months ago? She’s from Portugal? We decided to go by, because Sister Dorado speaks “some” Portuguese as well as Spanish. (Yeah right. If you can have a full half hour conversation and lesson, you KNOW Portuguese.) Marcia said: I have been waiting for you! I hope you don’t mind that I kept reading your book?
Uh, well, I mean, if you had to keep reading it, I guess that’s okay.
The Spirit was just so strong. I sat there and could understand so little, but I could feel it.
As we left the lesson, Sister Dorado turned to me and said the scariest sentence ever: Sister Miller, we are going to start teaching you Portuguese so you can participate in the lesson.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I would run for the hills, but you have to stay within sight and sound of your companion. So reaction of choice? Fetal position. haha.
So we got permission from President to do language study and tonight we begin. It’s going to be an interesting experience, to be sure.
Basically, I know that the Lord is there and that He cares. He is so aware of us, and there are a thousand infinitely tender mercies everyday.
I love being a missionary. There is joy in every day. Yesterday I had like three ward members pull me aside and ask why I was glowing.
Duh.
I’m a missionary! What is there not to glow about???????????
I love you all.
xxxx
Sister Miller
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