Hello from KISSIMMEE! February 17, 2009

Hi family!

I'm glad you got my Valentine's card, Mom! And I hope that everyone got their letters, too! Sorry I couldn't e-mail yesterday (it was a national holiday). But I am at a new library now so this is different. It's a lot bigger.

Wow, this week has flown by, and yet it also seemed like a month has gone by instead of a week. So many new things!! Kissimmee is a lot bigger and more city-like than Minneola. There is a large downtown area with lots of contacting opportunities and there are a lot more missionaries serving here because there are more people. : )

Monday (two Mondays ago) I had a going away dinner at the Sch's [ward mission leader]. He made me smoked ribs and it was good! We also said good-bye to a lot of families, and all my favorite people from the ward (of course the S's included). Brother S even called Mom while I was there to ask about Dad being here in Florida. I guess he wanted to have him over for dinner or something. He is so funny and very generous. I hope you guys stay in touch with them; they are always loved by the missionaries. : )

Overall, it was hard to say good-bye to everyone, but I am happy to take the next step on my mission and serve here in Kissimmee; I know it's where the Lord wants me to be. And plus I will always remember my first area and the amazing people who live there. (over 50 people wrote in my book so I will have some great memories in that book over the years to look at).

Tuesday Brother S. brought me here to Kissimmee (it was about a 40-minute drive). He also took me out to breakfast. What a nice guy! On Tuesday I unpacked and then I met my first family in the ward for a dinner appointment (the A family). They were really nice and had us over for pizza. One of them is a recent convert. Then bother A. took us to the church where I met Bishop T. and some of the other ward members. We taught the first lesson (message of the restoration) to the young men for a duty to god requirement. It was our first time teaching together but it went really well (even with a bunch of teenagers. : )

On Wednesday we taught a recent convert (Bro. G) and talked to him about the blessings that come from enduring our trials and read with him Ether 6. He recently broke his foot and since he's older he has a hard time getting around.

We've done a ton of biking in the last week and it's a lot of fun that way! Elder Urry broke his bike (the entire crank shaft fell off), but luckily we have the car this week so we can take it to get fixed for next week.

We have three new investigators: Harvey, Cory, and Larry. Larry and Corry are brand new as of this week and we taught them each the first lesson. (Larry is the blind man that I wrote dad about in my letter. He's the one Dad's copy of the Book of Mormon went to and we met with him again last night and had a really good discussion about the first vision with him.) Cory is a young man my age who just moved into our apartment complex. He is very open to hearing our message although he is of a Catholic background, and last night we taught him the message of the restoration as well. Remington, I gave Cory your copy of the Book of Mormon and told him how it was very special to me because on the inside cover my little brother had written his testimony. He said he would read 3 nephi 11 and pray about it and we're meeting again with him on Sunday. Good missionary work, Remi! And Mom, your book is the next to go. Reece your book is still with Anna K., the nine-year-old in Minneola and I just talked to Elder Bradford this morning and they are still doing well. Hopefully I'll get to go to their baptism sometime in march!

I met my zone this week and it's a lot bigger than my last! There are some awesome missionaries in this zone! We will accomplish a lot with the Lord's help and guidance. We also had a zone P-day together yesterday and I watched "The RM" (the [LDS] movie). My new companion is awesome! His name is Elder Urry and he is from Lehi, Utah. He his 6' 1'' and enjoys long boarding and the snow. He and I are having good missionary experiences together and are accomplishing a lot with the ward. We had a ward council meeting on Sunday and talked about our new ward mission plan. I am excited to be an instrument in God's hands in bringing people into the waters of baptism.

My first Sunday went really well and I met a lot of the ward members. I also taught gospel principles class on the priesthood because I filled in for the regular teacher who wasn't going to be there. It went really well and there was a lot of class participation. On Saturday we went to the baptism of our ward mission leaders son who is 8-years-old and we even got to help out with the confirmation!

On Saturday night we went contacting on main street and the first person we talked to was really positive. His name was Eric or "Big E" and he was a nice fellow who was helping out with a homeless shelter here in downtown Kissimmee. We of course volunteered to help out and they used us that very night! The organization is called "Life in the Son" and we helped make dinner for them and then participated in a spiritual message given to them by Mike, a pastor from the organization. It was on Christ-like love (for Valentine's Day) and there were about 30 homeless people there including a few couples for Valentines Day. We taught two lessons on the side as well while dinner was being prepared and cleared up a lady's concerns about the church. She said she would go one Sunday and we gave her the info about the church location so she could come. Overall it was an awesome random opportunity for service that the Lord provided us with!

On Sunday we had dinner with the Wakefield family and really enjoyed spending time with the whole family, including the daughter-in-law who is a recent convert. Last night we had two awesome lessons one with Cory and one with Larry and we even recorded the lesson with Cory on Elder Urry's device so that we could have it later to analyze our teaching. I might even be able to send you a copy of it so you could hear one of our missionary discussions. : )

Well, that was my week and I love you guys a lot! Dad good luck!! Reece, nice work on your new job(s)! Remi, I'll keep you posted on your Book of Mormon that went to Cory. Mom, thank you for your kind comments and I wish you luck with your jobs! How's the novel coming? I hope everything is going well for you guys and I hope you got my second envelope with the other letters in it. : )

I love you! Stay strong!

Elder Miller

My Favorite Family February 9, 2009

Dear Family,

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!

I'm leaving tomorrow for Kissimmee, Florida (it's by St. Cloud, close to Lakeland I think) because Kissimmee is just south of Orlando, too. : ) Small world, huh? I will serving as senior companion with Elder Urry. I look forward to serving anywhere the Lord calls me.

My week has crazy with a capital C. On Monday, zone p-day, I tore the tendon in my left ankle again, playing basketball (or maybe just sprained it, don't really know for sure.) Don't worry though, it wasn't nearly as bad as last time [Last June playing basketball at the church!] and I just followed the doctor's instructions-- first 24 hours elevation and ice. I still have my 'air cast' so I have been walking on it ever since Tuesday and it is healing fast. I can go tracting again so I am set. : ) I really have to stay away from that basketball. A member told me that it was the church's carpeted floors and that it happens to a lot of people playing church b-ball.This week we ate some frog legs for a dinner at the S's house. They were pretty good actually, breaded with corn meal and fried.

On the Monday that I sprained my foot we had a nice FHE at Sister Y's house with a big group.

Well, Cesar is progressing and he came to church on Sunday! We've taught him most of the lessons and we committed him to fast and pray about the truth of everything we have shared: the Book of Mormon, church, Joseph Smith, etc. His new date is for the 21st. The K. daughters, Anna and Briana are progressing and now have baptismal dates for the 28th. Reece, I gave Anna a special copy of the Book of Mormon, the one with your testimony in it and she really appreciated it. You did well!

Well I'm going to attempt to send another e-mail but if I don't get to I will write the rest of it in a letter this week.

I love you all and wish you a wonderful week,

Elder Miller

OK, I'm back so . . . Cesar P. is progressing and he is still very positive. : ) The K. daughters have been taught the restoration, the plan of salvation, and the gospel of Jesus Christ (lessons 1-3). I might get to attend both Cesar's and the K's baptisms because it's close enough to travel from Kissimmee and I have taught them more than three lessons. So hopefully president will grant me that permission.

Before I forget how are the Fullmers?? And the Bishop?? I would love to hear how they and the ward are doing.

Well, I've been preparing the area for my leave by updating fully the area book and the map book as well. The elder taking my place is awesome so he will be really good for the Minneola area! He is currently the assistant to the president, but he will be now district leader of this area and Elder Bradford's companion.

Sunday was my last sacrament with the Minneola Ward. I'm really going to miss my first area and all the amazing people here. You just grow so close to the members and the area after 6 months that it's hard to leave. But I know the Lord needs my help in Kissimmee, so I am happy to serve there. I leave tomorrow morning. I have had tons of members that I am close to, sign my book that Sister Hovey gave to me. So that will be nice for memories and keeping in contact with people.

On Sunday we had ward conference and I sang three songs with the choir: Count your many blessings, Joseph Smith's first prayer (to the tune of Jesus lover of my soul), and Glory to God on high. Today I have my last goodbyes and meals with the members. The S's seem sad to see me go and wanted to call and tell you that I am leaving, but i told them I wanted to tell you first. : ) Well, goodbye Minneola, hello Kissimmee.

I love you, each and every one of you so much! I hope your well goes really well and that you are able to accomplish everything you have ahead of you. Dad, good luck. Mom, keep up the awesome job on your novel and magazines/articles! (please tell me what plans you have for it after it is finished). : ) Remi, Keep up the good work in school, and have fun with your brother! Reece, I'm glad you are doing so well at your job and I wish you the best of luck in your school work as well!

I love you,

Elder Miller

Hello My Family! 2 February 2009

Hello my family!

It was so good to hear that all is going well for you!

Dad, I'm glad to hear that you've been doing some teaching. That's great! I know you are a good teacher from those years of having you as my teacher's quorum adviser.

Mom, I'm glad to hear that you are so far along in your novel. It takes a lot of discipline I'm sure and I know you'll do a great job with it. When all is said and done what are your plans for the novel. Will you get it published? [Oh, that it were so easy! Ha!] I will keep you in my prayers for your other jobs and projects as well.

Remi, I am so glad you're getting so much accomplished in Scouting! Keep working hard and you will join the Eagle nest as the fourth and final Eagle of our family! : )

Reece, it's awesome to hear about your first job. I remember working at Hollister for the first time thinking "I'm glad to gain this kind of experience, but I wouldn't want to do this for the rest of my life." : ) That sounds like an awesome job for you and anyone in high school. I'm glad they chose you cause I know you'll do a great job. I'm also glad you had a safe snowboarding adventure. Reece, I am so glad to be serving a mission. The things I have experienced so far have changed my life and solidified my testimony. I will write you a letter soon of some of the experiences I have had.

Love you all!

My week has been eventful so I will try to write it all. But first: did you get my package?? I sent it last Monday (earlier than I thought I would be able to) so I hope you got it. : )

Thank you so much for the testimonies and copies of the Book of Mormon you sent at Christmas. I just found out that each of you wrote your testimonies in them! I was sitting in my early morning church meeting yesterday and I had brought one of the copies of the books that you sent me so I could read in the morning before my meeting started. As I was opening to where I wanted to read someones hand writing caught my attention that wasn't Nephi's or Mormon's. It was the handwriting of my very own brother, Reece. : ) It brought tears to my eyes to read your testimony Reece, and I am so grateful that you all sent those. As you continue to do what the Lord asks of you and diligently read the Book of Mormon on your own time you will continue to strengthen the testimony you do have. Pray about what you read and give the spirit time in your life to testify of the truthfulness of it. I promise you from personal experience that as you do this you will feel the divine power of the holy ghost witness to your heart that it is true. I will be giving those copies of the Book of Mormon out to special individuals that I meet along the way and I will let each of you know which one your testimony went to and how it turned out. Thanks for your missionary work!

The S's hi! They were asking about you. We had dinner with them this week and also gave David a blessing. I'm sure he will get better. David says, "Hi, Remi." : )

Cesar's baptismal date will have to be moved back because he hasn't made it to church lately. I pray that as we work with him he will be able to keep his commitments and enter into the waters of baptism.

Well, I am going to e-mail you some more if I can at the chapel in Leesburg during zone p-day today.

Love you,
Elder Miller

Well, I got the chance right now so I will do it. : ) I still have 15 minutes to e-mail. : )

We have been teaching a few Spanish people and it is going well. On Tuesday we had a visit from the assistant to the president. they were in the area for a visit to the zone leaders and brought with them the zone leaders, too. We went on an exchange with Elder Kelly and he stayed in our area for the day. It went really well and we learned a lot from him. This is his last transfer being an AP because he is going home soon so president is transferring him to his final area.

We did some service for Brother Flower, a recent convert of about a year ago. We helped him put some boxes in the attic and then taught him about missionary work. I think he will make a great missionary in his neighborhood. We then tracted his area and talked to a few interesting characters. One of them was Nick from England and he came to the door with a beer in his hand. We ended up teaching him at the door about the restoration and the plan of salvation. He was very curious about the message we shared so we gave him a pamphlet that we committed him to read and we hopefully will see him soon.

Another interesting experience we had tracting was talking to Chris and his mom. He was smoking and met us in his driveway. We taught them about the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith experience and they were actually in agreement that it could happen. So we gave them a copy of the book of Mormon and committed them to read 3rd Nephi 11. On Tuesday evening I wen with Brother Bs to teach two nine yr. old twins, Anna and Brianna K. Their whole family was there and we had a good lesson about the Restoration. We gave Brianna a blessing too because she was having some health problems. I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting, especially because it might be my last fast Sunday there, who knows. :0

The month of January we doubled member exchanges from 18 to 31! and we also tripled member referrals from 2 to 7. There was a lot of progress made in the month of January and and I look forward to February! On Sunday I am singing with the ward choir for ward conference.

You are all in my prayers and I look forward to hearing from you soon. Let me know when you get my package. Love you!

Love,

Elder Miller