Hermana Miller: Week 11: GREATEST CHRISTMAS EVER (Oh and PS I am basically a pro wedding planner now....)

12/30/13

Hermana Miller:  Week 11:  GREATEST CHRISTMAS EVER

(Oh and PS I am basically a pro wedding planner now.)

  

Ahhhhhhhh what the heck it is already P-Day?! Time goes TOO FAST. It is so weird that this year and transfer is almost over. Time really does fly on the mission. I have so many new goals and I am so excited and motivated to work even harder than ever. Man, I can't tell you guys how useful writing goals and planning is. It really gives you a purpose every single day-I love that! I will never be able to live without a planner or goals again. I challenge all of you to prayerfully set some goals this year, write them down, and then assess them with someone every week so you are accountable. My goal in my future marriage is to kind of set aside time each week for like a "goal assessment and companionship inventory" sort of deal. Those two things really do make all the difference. Anyways, enough of the boring stuff!

Christmas was AWESOME. I can't tell you how much I loved it. We went and sang to the old folks in the Skilled Care part of one of the hospital's out here-they sure loved it! (And it was sooo funny! We went to the Lutheran hospital and we told them all we were missionaries so this tiny old lady asked us which church we were from. We said "The Mormon one!!!" and she got really quiet and her face went white and she just said "Well I'll be darned." I seriously almost lost it you guys, I was holding in so much laughter. It took all I could to keep from leaping at her and growling or something haha. GET THE HOLY WATER! Is that Catholic? I dunno. But the point is that by the end she loved us.) I really enjoy serving others on Christmas, that is definitely going to be a tradition in my future home. It really brings Christ back into Christmas! It was good to see everyone! You guys all look great. Family of models, I swear. Good news-I didn't even get homesick! I just more excited to go out and work! Yesss! I love this work, and I love to work hard. That really is the cure for any illness.

Sooooo we had a wedding this week! We're basically pros at planning a wedding in one day now. so if anyone needs help with that.......you should probably call someone else. Haha I never want to do that again. I was so stressed. But for my sweet Esthela, it was totally worth it. She looked beautiful and so happy. (Plus I got tres leches cake and a hug out of the deal so not a bad payback.) It went really well, I am so happy for them. We will not be able to get her baptized before she leaves for Mexico, but that's okay. She's basically a dry Mormon right now anyways, and she is excited to get back and get baptized so that is good. I just don't like not having a date. We'll figure it out.

Ummmm okay so remember that one time I saw that Sudanese family when we were trying to contact a member who had moved, and then we randomly decided to go back and visit them and they were GREAT?! Well we had the Restoration lesson with them last night and one of their family friends and they are AMAZING! I love them with all my heart. They told me all about the African Christmas traditions and it just made me want to go there all the more. (And I already have crazy dreams to go there, you know that.) But anyways, at the end of the lesson, all they older ones wanted their own Books of Mormon (the little kids did too, but we made them share.) So we ended up leaving them 5 copies and a Finding Faith in Christ video. (Which they turned on before we even left!) AND, get this! We asked at the end if they would be baptized and they all said YES! (But we better make sure they know we mean into our church haha.) But holy of all holies, guess what?! Turns out her sister is a member and they are in the other ward in our building! YES! And something else great, we are going to do a church swap with them, so I will get to go to their Sudanese church and they will come to ours! I am so excited. (But, heartbroken to turn them over to the English sisters. But they really love us so we are going to keep visiting and checking up on them.) I will send a picture. The guy on the end with the Cool Runnings hair is their awesome friend, Jacques. they might be my favorite people. I love them with all my heart. Almost as much as you guys!

 Good luck to Brynne and Grandma this week! I am soooo proud of both of you and praying for you like crazy. You will do amazing and you are both so well-equipped for your respective adventures! Grandma-don't be nervous! Being a missionary is the greatest thing ever. Brynne-get out there, work hard, and date a lot! You will love college life, if you manage your time well. If you don't you will just be stressed haha. I love you both and am so excited for you!

Something I noticed this week is how much I am learning and changing. Something big is how bold I am about this work! I thought I was going to be really nervous, but not even close!!! (And that is a big deal because I was the girl in high school who was so nervous to talk about the church when people said "Are you a Mormon?" I would get so sick about it, I distinctly remember trying to avoid that question.) Something I thought about is why in the world do we have fear about sharing a message of hope and love?!  That's ridiculous. I challenge every one who reads this to create a family mission plan this year, and assess it and tweak it at least once a month with your families for FHE. Members truly are the key to this work. Other changes I have noticed is that I am becoming more patient, better at letting things go and compromising, (mildly) less prideful hahaha, and way more compassionate. A mission truly was irreplaceable for me.

I want you guys to enjoy some verses I loved as I did my studies this week. Go read 1 Nephi 19:9. After that, go read Moroni 7:45-48 and substitute the word "Atonement" for where it says "Charity." Then go read Alma 7:11-13 and put your own name in where it says "my people." It is amazing.

I love you all! Happy New Year!

Hermanita Miller

PS- I saw a man accidentally rip his pants from belt line to knee this week. This representative of Christ had tears in her eyes from holding in laughter and then laughing so hard. And almost getting mooned. Nice. I love Nebraska.

Hermana Miller: Letter 10: Feliz Navidad a mis queridos gringos!!

12/23/13

Hermana Miller:  Week 10:  Hola Queridos Gringos! 

(Jajaja I love being able to say that.)

  

MERRY ALMOST CHRISTMAS! I am going to apologize in advance, this is going to be really short because I have zero time. But it is the thought that counts, right?

This week was a blur. We had our Zone Conference and that was incredible. I truly love all these missionaries, and especially the Westons. They are amazing. Some people knitted all the sisters in the entire mission slippers so that was darling. Guess what I did at the Conference? SANG. I know, right?! I don't even know who I am anymore. I have a video but you will have to wait 16 months to hear it. Sorrryyyy. (We can't use Flickr according the white handbook.) Hermana Pocock, Sister Reidhead, and Sister Fulbright (Yeah, Bri Fulbright's COUSIN! Small world!) and I sang "Cantan Santos Angeles" which is "Angels We Have Heard On High..." mixed in English and Spanish. It was really nice! The theme of the Conference was the Atonement so it was amazing.

We had to move Esthela's baptism. (BOO!) But it is okay because we are throwing her a boda this week. That's right-she is going to get  married finally! Then she has to go back to Mexico for a month but after that we will baptize her. I love her so, so, so much. I have been really sick this week. (Pneumonia is what all the cool kids get here. Don't have it yet, but heading there possibly. Don't worry mom, I am using my inhaler and feeling fine. And don't worry dad, I am still working my behind off. Walking around in the cold for hours most days still.) But Esthela has been my mom. She gives me medicine and herbal tea, and even gave me a beautiful scarf that matches my red skirt. WOW.

Hermana Pocock and I found a Veteran's care home right near our apartment and we are going to start volunteering there. I can't wait. I already love them all so much. We were in there the other day and got a mini-tour sort of thing and talked to a hilarious man named Lou who is 95 and acts like he is 25! He is the greatest. I can't wait to see him again, even though he told us he was planning on kicking the bucket soon. What a card!

Anyways, don't have much time. Sorry! But I love you all and hope you are remembering the reason for the season. Keep Christ in CHRISTmas. He has given us everything, and He asks for so little in return. Just our hearts. I love my sweet brother Christ with everything that I have. And my Heavenly Father is just too good to me. He keeps my spirits high when times get frustrating out here.

Todo mi Corazon!

Hermanita Miller :)

Hermana Miller: Week 9: It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like NAVIDAD! :)

12/16/2013

Hello everyone! Can I just start by saying FELIZ NAVIDAD?! I love the Christmas season! People are much more willing to listen to messages about Christ and hope. (Well, the Hispanos at least. Every door we have knocked that a white person has answered has been shut in our faces with some less-than-nice words sometimes....also, some lady told us that Barack Obama is a Mormon now and he wants to kill everyone. So that's nice! Bet you didn't know that! Hahaha. What a loon.) But the good news is that I am out here serving Spanish speaking, so you know what they say- "Like water off a duck." Seriously, though. You learn to get thick skin out here on the mission. Sometimes people treat us like lepers! In fact, one lady in the supermarket restroom ran out without washing her hands when she heard we were Mormon missionaries! Hope she doesn't work at a restaurant. Yikes. But despite all that, life is amazing. We have been walking a lot this week, which means we have been talking to TONS of people. (And I have some nice windburn going on on my poor little cheekies...) I have lost every ounce of shyness I had! I will walk up and talk to anyone! It's the best! The great thing about being an Hermana serving Spanish speaking is this: (In the words of a less active member...) "I don't know about white people, but for us Mexicans, when you see a beautiful lady standing on your porch, you are gonna listen to whatever she has to say. It's like 'HEY LADY! YOU NEED SOME HELP OR SOMETHING?'" (You should have heard him saying all that in broken English and with his accent and expressions. It was priceless.) Hispanos are so great.

Yesterday in la reunion sacramental we have about 40-50 people there, which is double our normal attendance! My heart was so full I thought I was going to die. The sacrament hymn, although sung by a bunch of tone-deaf, sweet-hearted Latinos, was the most lovely thing I have heard in so long. I felt like I was surrounded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! God is so good to us. We are working our buns off out here, and there is still so much work to do, but He is blessing us every step of the way. We met this family from Guatemala the other day in the supermarket, and went and visited them last night. They are so wonderful and sweet and spiritual! Rocio, the mom, agreed to be baptized once she got her answer. (Which, we know she will.) And she "coincidentally" (nothing is ever a coincidence with the Lord,) had her brother in law and his family there and they want us to come teach them too! So amazing! And then this morning I prayed that we would find a family with three kids to teach today as we were out and about, and we started talking to this lady and come to find out, guess what, holy of all holies, SHE HAS THREE KIDS. HALLELUJAH! The heavens really are open here in Grand Island, NE, and the blessing are just pouring out, so much that we don't have room to receive them! We just keep having so many great experiences like that, and we are meeting TONS of people to teach! (And we haven't even started knocking in the trailer parks yet!) Investigators are just falling into our laps. It's incredible how when you just follow the Spirit and listen to every single tiny prompting you have, what the Lord will bless you with! I can't say it enough everyone, FOLLOW THE SPIRIT. You know, like the Nike motto, JUST DO IT.

Something else wonderful this week is we had Spanish training in Omaha! So the wonderful Hermana Pocock and I took a roadtrip and got to sing to EFY music the whole way! (It is about a 2.5 hour drive. Oh and PS I am the designated driver in the companionship so that's pretty fun! I won't get rusty! Or maybe I will since we only have a car every so often...) Oh by the way, Sister Burt, who works in the mission office and is like my NE grandma, served a mission in Switzerland too, dad! She called me like two times the other day just to chat about it and about talking to you haha. I want to hear your side of the story! Tomorrow we have Christmas Zone Conference in Lincoln, so that will be fun. Oh, and guess what, (you guys are not going to believe this,) Hermana Pocock and I will be singing! We are going to sing "Cantan Santos Angeles," or "Angels We Have Heard On High," for all you Gringos out there. I can't believe how much I am singing out here. We sing for the people we are teaching every single lesson! (She studied voice at USU for two years.) I don't even know who I am anymore!

Well, we are going to make some holiday treats today, we are thinking about making Rice Christpies, or would you call them Christ Rispies? Hahaha! (Is that sacreligious? How do I spell that? I am forgetting how to English...oops here comes the lightning bolt!) And we are going to go caroling to all our neighbors and less-actives. (And maybe hand out some of those "Happy Birthday, Jesus" bookmarks too. Haha, thanks mommy!) Anyways, I sure love you all and hope you are thinking about what gifts you are going to give to Christ this year! I know I am! But a good place to start would be with your whole heart. ;)

I love you all! I love this gospel! I love Grand Island! I love Spanish! I love being a missionary!

Todo mi Corazon,

Hermana Miller (Or H Millz, whatever you prefer.)

Hermana Miller: Week 8: Hola-laa-l​a-la-la-la​-laa-la!!! (fa-la-la-​la-la-la-l​a-la!)

12/9/13

What a week! And I don't have much time again to explain everything, sorry guys! But this sure has been a whirlwind of emotions! I feel like I am riding a roller-coaster...you get really high highs and really low lows sometimes as a missionary. But Heavenly Father is so good to us and the highs outweigh the lows by like a bajillion times. I will just have to list stuff for time's sake.

1.)  UHHHHMMMM MY BELOVED FIRST INVESTIGATOR, Estela, IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!! AWWWHHH YEEEAAAAHHHH!!!! Words cannot explain how much I love this woman. I feel like I have known her all my life. She always hugs me and kisses me (All Hispanic woman kiss you on the cheek when they hug you. The right side of my face is going to be so beautiful by the time I get home!) and she calls me her "hermanita preciosa" which means her precious little sister! I think I terrified poor Hermana Pocock during the first lesson because I asked her to be baptized, but it was incredible. We literally watched her receive her answer from the Spirit in that exact moment. She said "I think I will..." and all of the sudden her face changed and she started bawling and said basically "Yes! YES! I will!" and was so overcome with the Spirit and she got up and basically tackled me with a hug and she said she had never felt that way in her whole life before. Well, since being bold worked the first visit, I decided to do it again in our second visit haha. (Poor Hermana Pocock, I always jump the gun. She is so good and patient with me.) I asked Stella to be baptized on December 27th. She started bawling again and was saying things that basically translate to "What emotion! What happiness!" and she just could not believe it would be so soon. She came to the Christmas party and saw the font and started crying and cried again in church. She is so ready and sensitive to the Spirit it is incredible. I want the best for her because she has had a hard life.

2.)  The Christmas party went well, but it was stressful for sure. But it was very spiritual and there was TONS of food. (TAMALES. OH MI CORAZON. I LOVE HISPANICS.) They said it was the best turn out they have ever had!

3.)  We found about 10 new investigators this week! Some from Cuba, Guatemala, and even Honduras! This really is the promised land!!!! :)

4.)  This car share thing is going to kill me from stress. But God is providing. Somehow, every day so far He has given us rides and all sorts of blessing.

5.)  I had to give a fifteen minute talk on tithing! SCARY. But I think it went okay! We got quite a few non-active members back to church so that was great!!!

That's all the time I have unfortunately. :( (Thank heavens for journals!!!)

I LOVE EVERYONE! I hope you got the letter I sent!

Stay strong and be member missionaries, it makes all the difference for us out here!

Happy almost birthday, mom! I have something for you in the mail.

Todo mi Corazon,

HERMANA MILLER :)

 

Hermana Miller: Week 7: First Week in Nebraska!

12/2/13

Wowwww I have so much to say and soooo little time! Heart attack time! What a humbling and incredible week!

First of all, it is no secret that I have been a little hesitant about Nebraska, but as the plane was flying over the state and I was looking around I just got this overwhelming feeling that this is where I am supposed to be. I am so grateful to be here. And speaking of being grateful, this was the best Thanksgiving EVER! WE spent our Thanksgiving at the Mormon Trail Center at the Winter Quarters temple. IN-CRE-DI-BLE. We have so much to be thankful for, everyone! These people gave up everything for this gospel and to ensure that we could have it as well. We have eternal families and temples. We have the true and restored gospel! We have countless blessings! And now we need to make sure we live in a way that honors the sacrifices of the early Saints and Christ and also live in a way that ensures we are worthy of those blessings. I thought I was going to be really homesick but I wasn't which was a massive blessing. These people have become my family here in Nebraska. Sister Weston wants us all to call her our "Mission Mom" and is just the greatest little gal ever. Some other very special ladies I have met are Sister Sherman and Sister Burt-two of the senior ladies who work in the office. Oh my goodness they are like my other grandmas! We bonded right off the bat. Sis Burt is so sassy and hilarious and Sis Sherman is one of those great "TV" grandmas. I love them. Thanksgiving night we opened another mission call which told us our assignments! I am now in Grand Island, NE (about 2 hours west of Omaha) with Sister Pocock! Sister Pocock was the first Spanish speaking sister in this mission. There are only six of us total now! Wow! That is a lot of pressure but so exciting! She is from Idaho and so wonderful. I love her already and we are working our little behinds off.

We are opening Grand Island! We are the very first Spanish speaking sisters here! And let me tell you-it is the promised land! It is about 50% Hispanic in this area, and so there are plenty of people to teach. And they are so diverse! We actually have a whole ton of different dialects-mainly there is a massive population of Cubans. (That is like learning a whole other language, let me tell you.) We have also met Guatemalans, Bolivians, and all sorts of other people. Saturday we went to a baptism the elders had for a little man from Spain named Eduardo! Oh he is just the greatest thing! He is so funny and chatty and just a fireball who is so excited to serve.

Our branch is going to be a challenge for us-it is having a lot of problems. Out of 200 members right now we are lucky to get 30 to church on Sunday. Uh ohhhh. But we have been doing lots of visits and got some people to come yesterday and also to Eduardo's baptism! We found out a lot of little girls between 8 and 10 have not been baptized, so I had this idea to throw a little "tea party" where we would have cookies and hot cocoa and teach about baptism to the daughters and their moms, so that is something exciting in the works!

As hard as it has been so far, we have been seeing miracles! We met a Guatemalan family with three tiny kids that we get to teach this week, another Mexican family who have four kids and an inactive father-in-law to teach, and a lady that had moved in and replaced where one of our members used to live. Our directory is really inaccurate because everyone is always moving here, so we have been stopping by to visit and verify, and at first that was a major burden, but we keep finding more and more people to teach that have moved into those houses! Incredible! The Lord is so good. I am so happy to be here.

It is so humbling to be out here finally. The area and the people are so poor. We have been in so many trailers this week. (And I have seen so many cockroaches.) It actually makes me feel bad to go home at night because our apartment is newly renovated and so lovely. But I know these people will see blessings as they come back to church! The big stressor right now is our car share-we only have 500 miles a MONTH and tons of spread out people to see. Pray for us!

I love you all! Sorry this is short!

Love, Hermana Miller

PS If you want to send a big comforter for my bed that would be nice. I am freezing my tush off at night.

PPS Everyone thinks I am Italian or Puerto Rican. Apparently I speak like one and look like one. They love it! Especially Eduardo hahaha.