Oompa Loompa

Hi Family!

I'm emailing so late today because we had zone p-day! That was super fun. I used to hate zone p day... It's where a bunch of weird missionaries get together and play sports.. and I usually get hit in the face. But then I met Oompa Loompa, and my life has changed!! Oompa is like ultimate frisbee, but you play it on a basketball court with a football. It's so fun!!

This week was pretty good! Carolyn finished the Book!!! I asked how she felt about it, and she said, "Like I want to get baptized!" I was blown away. She has changed so much. Her only hold up is that she wants her husband to do it too, and he's not super interested. But things will work out :) Please pray for them. I love those humans so stinking much!

I got to go on exchanges in Chippy again! (Chippenham YSA ward...) it was so fun! I love downtown Richmond. Exchanges are really fun when you get to leave your area. Nice change up :) The city is so interesting and fun!

While I was gone, Sister George had an awesome lesson with Pam. She was super golden, but she kind of disappeared on us a few days ago :( We stopped by, and her roommate told us that she was sleeping, and she didn't want to do the Stop Smoking program any more. It's a big life change, so I think she's just scared. :( Please please pray for her. She is amazing.

After that happened with Pam, I was thinking about how Satan uses fear and self doubt to keep us from being happy and doing good. We feel the spirit work within us, and we start to change, but then we think, "I can't do this. I'm not strong enough." I feel that way all the time as a missionary! It's so easy to beat ourselves up. But it made me think of the story from general conference about the little boy trying to move a huge boulder. It wouldn't budge. The dad told him, "You must use all your strength." He said, "I am!" But the dad responded, "No. You haven't asked for my help yet." With the aid of his father, the little boy was able to move the boulder. It's like that with Heavenly Father. I know He didn't send us here to fail. I know He doesn't ask us to do anything He doesn't intend to help us with. Sometimes missionary work is just plain hard, and I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. But I know that with the Lord's help, all things are possible. I know this gospel is real. I love sharing it. 

I love you so much family! Have a blast this week with haylie and sawyer! I hope to see pictures :) MOM! Happy happy birthday! You guys better spoil the heck out of her. She is the best mom ever, and she deserves it. Miss you.

Love, 

Sister Miller

August 4, 2014

Oh my goodness, FAMILY. This week was nutso!

First of all, I got a new companion! Her name is Sister George from the lovely little town of Cody Wyoming. She's a good egg :) She's been out 14 months, so I'm learning a lot from her!

Okay, so miracle number one (of many) this week is Carolyn. Remember how we dropped her, and it was really hard? Well, to make a long story short, we went over to her house this week, and she had read from Jacob 1 to Alma 45 in the Book of Mormon! She has been reading it for 2 hours every day!! She knows its true (she already did...) and she's doing awesome!

Next miracle, remember Pat R.? Sweet old less active lady whose husband has dementia? Well, she's been coming to church, reading her scriptures, and being awesome... and she decided she wants to go back to the temple! She wanted to start paying tithing, but she had no clue where the money was going to come from. She said, "I don't have spending money.. but I'm going to take a leap of faith and just see what happens." A few days later, she got her rent and utility bills, and they had dropped $170!

We had a blitz in our area this week, so all the missionaries in our district came over to tract. The Bon Air elders met this guy named JR, and we got to teach him the next day. He just got done with basic training for the Navy, and he has so many questions about life. I think it was the most amazing lesson I've ever been a part of. He was SO humble, and you could just see how badly he wanted forgiveness. The spirit completely took over, and it was beautiful to feel God's love flow to him through the lesson.

The next day, we found Pam. Sister George found a name from the area book and said, "I feel like we need to go see him." When we pulled up to the house, I realized that I had been there before, and that they weren't interested. So we decided to tract his neighbors. Pam was the first door we knocked on. She said she never opens the front door, but for some reason she did that day. She said, "this is amazing... I've never even had a desire for religion before. I never understood people who did. But for the first time in my life... I want Godliness." She had just decided the day before to quit smoking, and she really wants to change her life. 

Later that day, we went park contacting. There were only 2 people there, so we almost decided to leave and do something else. But Sister George said, "No, let's take at least 1 lap and talk to those people." So we did. A young man walked past, and I handed him a Plan of Salvation pamphlet. We started talking, and he told us that he had been searching for something in his life. He had come to the park that day to talk to God, and he was saying a prayer inside when we stopped him. 

It is incredible to see Heavenly Father's hand in this work. This week it hit me so hard that the savior truly wants to forgive. When we are baptized, all our sins are washed away. That is why we invite people to do it. I know that the atonement is real. I'm seeing it work in my life, and I'm seeing it in the lives of the people. I love this gospel with all my heart. It is true. 

I love you!  

Sister Miller