I like to look for rainbows....

So. Today’s letter will be way brief. Hopefully that’s okay. If not…well, it still will be brief.



This week, we were GQing this woman, who had two little girls. She said something to the effect of how she felt that religions were exclusive to “dissimilar” people.  My companion was answering her question, and started talking about how we are all God’s children.

The one girl’s eyes lit up, she grabbed her sister by the shoulders, and excitedly yelled:

         “I’M RELATED TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND!!!”

Probably the highlight of my week. If you are having a bad day, I guess you can just remind yourself that you are related to the Queen of England.



It’s cool when you go to church and the talks are just for you. That’s one of my favourite things. I tell my investigators about that when I tell them about church. We explain to them that if they prayerfully come to church with a question, they will find the answer. That’s how personal revelation works.

We don’t simply ‘go to church’, we go with a purpose. When we do that, it makes the renewal of our covenants much more poignant. When an entire ward does that, the reverence is almost palpable. I love seeing that pattern in my own life. I am so grateful that revelation is ongoing. I know that God is fully aware of us, His children. His plan for us includes a million opportunities for us to realize that for ourselves, and then act with the power that comes from that knowledge.



This week, we got soaked, got burned, got lost, found people, and a million other seeming contradictions that are the backbone of missionary life.

Thank you for all your prayers. I really appreciate it.



I love you all!!!

Xx



Sister Miller

PIC:
Probably one of my favourite things I've seen my whole mission.

The Meaning of Happy

This week was a bit rough. We got flogged SO many times, and still haven't found anyone to teach. I'm starting to chop at the bit. Patience has 'always' been a skill of mine. But I'm trying to   be patient with what the Lord is giving me. And I know I am in the right place doing the right things, so things will happen when they are meant to.

I could talk about the 50000 people we met, but I just want to talk about one.

We have about ten formers the elders finally gave us. One was a lady named Andrea. We didn't know anything about her, but we showed up and knocked the door. A teenager answered the door. Usually we would have asked for the lady we were looking for, but we both felt prompted to just talk to this girl.
She didn't seem at all interested, and was kinda of trying to get us to go away. We were about to give up and ask for Andrea, when she started to close the door and then paused and just blurted out:
"I mean, it's something I never even thought about till my mum died a few weeks ago. Now I need to know. I need to understand."

It turns out the lady we were looking for had passed away, but I know the person who needed us then was her daughter. We shared the Plan of Salvation, and you could almost see the worry leave her face.

I love that about the Plan of Salvation. It immediately resonates and is just so comforting.
Hopefully someday Millie can be taught more. But for now, we just taught her what she was ready for. And I love doing that.



One thing I love about the Worcester Ward is the Deaf "community" there. There are three active members who are deaf, and a few less-active ones as well. Most of the ward has at least learned the basics of BSL, and quite a few of them can sign full lessons, which is really cool. So far I've pretty much just learned the alphabet and a few other signs.
Last week, Delma wanted to bear her testimony. She's this little tiny old woman. She just stood up, looked around, and motioned to a random member to come up with her.
She signed her testimony, and he spoke it for her. There were a few times she had to stop and spell things because he didn't know the sign, but it was so powerful. Her face was just so intent, and you could feel her sincerity as she bore her testimony.

I loved that. Then on Saturday, the daughter of one of the deaf men (Antony) was baptized. We helped her get sorted after she came out of the font, and we came out and starting walking back towards the chapel.

Antony was standing there with tears just streaming down his face.
I asked him if he was okay, and he just clapped his hands (they were horizontal, not vertical)three times.

And then he spelled it for me: H-A-P-P-Y.

And then he clapped three more times.


Happy.


That has to be my favourite signs of all time. It's just perfect. Think of how often in the Book of Mormon they clap their hands for joy.

H-A-P-P-Y.

Since then, I have studied little else other than the meaning of happiness in the scriptures.
I am so grateful that we can be happy, and that that is God's intent for us as His children.


Have a good week.

xxxx

Sister Miller

PIC:

The Sisters Miller! There's a new German sister named Sister Miller. She is so flipping cute. It's a big joke to everyone. It feels good to again have Sister America and Sister Deutschland. :)

Worcester Cathedral, England

FRESH START

Goooooooooooooooooooooood morning, everyone!!



So. This past week was transfers.

I was moved. You are going to have to keep reading for a moment though because I like pretending I can leave people in suspense. J

I’ll give you this though…for the first time in nearly a year, I’m not in Wales. (I was gutted to go.)



Leaving Cardiff was a lot harder than I expected. I thought that because I had only been there for four months it would be easy. So not true. I just loved how…vibrant the city was. I could seriously write a book on the people I met and taught and the members there. So many characters it’s unreal.

My last night, I was sung the Welsh goodbye song, made heart-shaped Welsh cakes with a member, and got loads of unexpected sweet goodbyes. Basically, it was perfect. I am so thankful I served there, and know it was definitely called of God. It’s going to be my favourite city for the rest of forever.



And now, I am in….Worcester!!

I know. Go to your cupboard, pull out the sauce and think of me. Try to pronounce it as well.  ;)

Wuss-tur. Wuss-tur-sure.



So, when we got the dodge, I was told I was whitewashing in after elders. Which was cool. And then when we were dropped off at our flat the first night, there was absolutely nothing.

By process of elimination, I found out I’m not just whitewashing—I’m opening!!

Flip. I cannot tell you how UNBELIEVABLY excited I am. I have wanted to open an area my entire mission. AHH!!!

It’s been so great. We had no food or supplies, no map, no Area Book, no ward list, nothing. (Luckily the zone leaders gave us the few copies of the Book of Mormon that were in their car along with some pass-along cards.)

I’ve never been so excited to buy a map.

Basically, this is the best thing that could have happened to me.



Chuffed.
Just so so chuffed.

It’s been an adventure. My companion’s name is Sister Moser. I’m pretty sure she is Aunt Judy’s doppelganger. She’s an absolute doll, and I love working with her. We have just been working like nobody’s business. So far, my time here has consisted of finding. Which probs doesn’t surprise you.


Our area is half of the city of Worcester, and then Great Malvern, about 6 miles away. So, the famed Malvern Hills and Worcester Cathedral are right at my fingertips. This area has SO much potential. There’s a huge uni here (which is dead for the summer but will be amazing in a few months) and then Malvern has hardly been worked over.


So basically, this place is amazing. The ward is all really old people. (in testimony meeting yesterday, there were loads of long pauses. But it was simply travel time for people trying to get up. Haha)

But that’s okay. They were SO excited when we went by and met them our first few days here.

I love this area already. Hopefully I’ll have good things to share for next week.



Oh. Cool story on LDS newsroom. I love the quote from the European Mission Pres.



Xxxx



Sister Miller



PICS

Sister Moser and I!

Worcester Cathedral, England.  The view from the bridge. Can you see why I fell in love with this place?